Tiny Outlooks - The Bearded Poet - Banks Peninsula

I’d been admiring this corner of paradise and its hut from a far for a few months, imagining the stories it held, ahead of our planned winter stay. The five forms of transport we took added adventure to the journey and built our anticipation to reach this fabled destination. Owner Wendy greeted us at the edge of the farm track to transport us on our final leg by farm buggy to the secluded Camp Bay site. She shared stories of the land’s history with us and how the hut came to be…

The Bearded Poet - It’s the personification of a fictional character that embodies the personality of this hut. It was originally built as a family fishing getaway hut in the early 1930s with found materials including packing crates for internal walls and flattened kerosene cans for cladding. (Anything they could get their hands on during the depression). Alex and Wendy Keir took ownership of the hut, along with the 306 hectare working farm it sits on in 2020. The hut was near derelict at the time but it ticked all the boxes. “We knew we had to do something special here and restore a slice of history. Alex loves taking something run down and turning it into something beautiful” shares Wendy. With Alex’s expertise in carpentry and Wendy’s background in design, together they have created a thing of beauty. An homage to a simple life in a bygone era (with some much appreciated hidden luxuries for the contemporary holiday maker).

The rebuild and interior design here are so authentic and sympathetic to the hut’s roots that you feel like you’ve been transported to its original era. A time when things happened slowly and everything required a deliberate act. There is a simple joy in lighting the fire, heating the water on the stove and settling in with a cuppa and a book, in a place filled with character. I think my husband became the bearded poet during our stay. He’s been known to dabble in writing and could be found with pen in hand on quite a few occasions here.

Being here in the winter enabled us to experience the crisp southern air. We watched moody tufts of low hanging cloud drift and whisp along the harbour. Pockets of sun gave a golden glow to the surrounding hills. The light strained through the mist and shimmered a rainbow. We bundled up to explore the bay and retired to the warmth of the hut and crackle of the fireplace by night.

I find that inspiration comes when I take myself away from the everyday and set aside time without agenda, in a place of wonder. Here you’ll find the wonder of remoteness. The wonder of the sea. The wonder of the land. The wonder of the history. This is a place where you feel compelled to reflect. To listen to the quiet, to watch the ebbs and flows of the slowly shifting tides, to absorb. To be present.

The last 5kms of land that stretches along the Lyttelton Harbour makes up Alex and Wendy’s farm ‘Keirangi’. If you look closely at this last image you will see the Bearded Poet nestled into the bay. The Keirs are currently designing a new hut to add to their land which will have its own tale to tell. You can follow their journey through the social handle @thewonderfuls_ . For hut bookings, head to https://canopycamping.co.nz/bearded-poet

Tiny Outlooks - Ringa Kaha - Central Plateau

Aotearoa’s Central Plateau is synonymous with winter adventure. Mt Ruapehu attracts the masses to its ski-fields when the snow kicks in and the nearby settlements bustle with visitors… but this North Island alpine region has a serene charm in the off season. Ringa Kaha Cabin is a short drive from National Park Village but it has a feel of absolute remoteness upon arrival. Sitting high on the landscape, with striking views, the cabin has been cleverly situated to privately bathe in its surroundings. Cows graze on rolling hills towards the east and farmland gives way to expansive ranges towards the west. I melted into a relaxed state almost immediately when we arrived, slowly experiencing and capturing moments with my family as they unfolded.

Ringa Kaha Cabin is owned by four siblings and takes its name from the Maori translation of their surname - Armstrong. Angela, Jason, Mark and Hayley, together with their late father Bob bought the 80 hectare farm block in 2004 as a base for hunting, fishing and skiing. For years, there was just an old shack on the land, but when Bob became ill in 2016, carpenter Mark decided to build the new cabin so their father could continue to visit and stay comfortably at the farm, along with the family. Mark and Hayley worked together on the design, Mark completed the construction and Hayley did the interior styling. The result is a lovingly crafted board and batten cabin of 65m2 that comfortably sleeps 6.

My family and I visited during the season of cicadas and wild flowers. We were treated to beautiful sunshine (as well as some wind and rain) and the cabin proved adept at handling all conditions. With bi-folding doors to the east and the west, you can follow the weather’s lead and choose a fully open breezeway, a sheltered direction or a closed in cocoon. With an indoor wood burner for the colder months and an outdoor oven and Dutch Tub (from Hayley’s business tulips.co.nz) there’s an embracing of all things hygge and slow living that is evident here. The whole cabin is fully off-grid with solar power and spring-fed water. I imagine hunkering down here and forgetting the world quite easily. There’s both a cosiness and a spaciousness here which promotes a full spectrum of feelings from peaceful relaxation to wild adventure.

Intentionality… It’s the word I’ve chosen for this year. These getaways are a perfect way to grab hold of quality time and create shared experiences with the fam. Our time at the cabin was marked by good food, music, board games, book reading, fire tending, hot tub soaking and cloud gazing. We all tend towards active relaxing so we also packed our mountain bikes and ventured to the Ohakune Old Coach Road. You can park your car at one end of the track and arrange a shuttle to the other or just ride as far as you like one way and make a return trip. We chose the latter and enjoyed a leisurely ride with a picnic stop along the way.

The west facing outlook at Ringa Kaha is an ever-changing canvas. Sheets of rain marched along the ridge-line one afternoon, giving us a few minutes warning of the oncoming squall. Then just as quickly as it arrived, the clouds parted and patches of sun started stretching down to the valley below. It seemed like the weather systems just continually rolled over the ranges like tidal surges. This place is a sky gazer’s paradise. I imagine the winter vista would be quite different again… We will just have to schedule a return visit to find out.

Built as an escape for the Armstrong families (who all live out of the region) Ringa Kaha Cabin can also be enjoyed by others who book through Canopy Camping… canopycamping.co.nz/ringa-kaha-cabin

Tiny Outlooks - Ridge Retreat - Waiotahe

An escape to Ridge Retreat was very timely for us as a couple. It’s been a challenging season recently for our family so this mini break (while Grandma stayed at home with our kids - thanks Grandma) was a perfect little reset. Pitched as a ‘sanctuary of wellness’, it surely did deliver. Give me a vista of Aotearoa wilderness, accompanied by birdsong and sunsets and I’m on the way to wellness. Add some wine, cheese and banter with my love by the fire pit and I’m there… The cedar barrel sauna with a view tipped me over.

Situated on family land in the Bay of Plenty, Ridge Retreat came to life when owners Lynsay and Jacob saw potential in an unused corner of Jacob’s parents’ kiwifruit orchard. The site is completely private with stunning views stretching over neighbouring orchards and farmland towards the ranges of the Waioeka Gorge. Jacob grew up on the orchard and after some years abroad, has returned to be close to family again. Lynsay, who was living in Tauranga, moved here a couple of years ago and they quickly got to work on the cabin. Jacob’s experience as a construction business owner and Lynsay’s experience managing short term rentals and dabbling in interior design meant the couple were able to pool their knowledge and skills to create this labour of love. Together they designed and built the cabin over a year, finishing the project in late 2024.

Tucked behind a shelter belt of trees, the first glimpse of the cabin emerges through a green arch at the end of a long driveway, hugging the kiwifruit vines. This one bedroom cabin has a kiwi bach kind of feel from the exterior with its board and batten finish. As you enter, you realise it’s a bit more luxe than the average kiwi bach. It is beautifully appointed with wooden finishes and natural tones throughout. The concrete outdoor bathtub and bench tops have been hand crafted by Jacob and add great character and solidity with their inclusion. The full drama of the setting is revealed when you look out from the covered deck towards the view.

It can be a challenge to stop and rest. Many of us don’t do ‘nothing’ well. I would say I’m more of an active relaxer and that’s definitely true of my husband also. Being away from the distraction of projects around the home is key. On most of our little getaways, at some point he can be found noodling on his guitar and scribbling down lyrics to new songs while I drink in the views and frame the experience with my camera. I love the in-between moments. Where quality time organically paves a way for deeper conversations and contemplation.

To get our active fix for the trip we headed to Onekawa Te Mawhai Regional Park, a short drive from our stay. There are multiple short walk options here and we headed to Onekawa Pa which boasts an expansive view of the East Coast, across Ohiwa Beach and north towards Ohope. Various Islands are dotted along the horizon including Whale Island and Whakaari White island which could be seen softly pluming in the distance.

Time out allows us to dream and a setting close to nature fuels gratitude. I am certainly grateful for this little escape.

To book your stay at Ridge Retreat, head to Canopy Camping Escapes.

Tiny Outlooks - Matu PurePod - Waitomo

Waking at first light in a glasshouse is like nothing else. Expansive skies rise like a tide, gaining colour and depth around us as we float in the cosy warmth of sheets and pillows. All the beauty of the outdoors, with all of the comfort of indoors. Actual luxury.

The PurePods ethos is to provide high-end nature stays in remote New Zealand locations. Glass Cabins, with a touch of off-grid luxury. The experience starts with a journey on foot. With a 20 minute overland hike from the car, we carried in our overnight bags (plus wine, snacks, guitar, tripod and all the camera gear - just the essentials ; ) From the farm track, we followed the sign posts, through long grass and bracken, over a stile to the brow of a hill where the cabin came into view. It was isolation with an outlook. Bliss.

This is a partnership made in heaven. “Rural landowners work alongside PurePods to create a unique experience for guests." The hosts and land owners (Te Taki and Cheryl) have left us a personalised welcome note as well as having provided a beautiful food package filled with local fare. They are raising their five kids on the land, living the rural kiwi dream. Looking out to the rolling hills and distant ranges, I’m thankful for this little visual taster.

The pod interior has a combination of aluminium joinery and wooden detailing. Every glass wall is a framed outlook of green or blue. Solar panels power the house lights. Gas heats the water and powers the hob. Not a power line in sight.

The beauty of off-grid isolation is the lack of distraction. Time slows and the sounds of nature kick in without other input. Quality time is my thing. It was our wedding anniversary when we stayed, and what a treat this was; eating good food and drinking wine together as the sun dipped into the hills behind the cabin. We collected wild flowers and watched the long grass dance in the fading light as we explored the land.

Night drew in and the indigo sky deepened seamlessly above us. I’ve slept under the stars a few times, but usually with the addition of damp dew and plenty of mozzies. This felt like royalty. I’m ruined for roughing it after this experience, haha. PurePods have partnered with land owners all over Aotearoa so there are luxury glass cabins to be found in all corners of the Motu. To book your own escape, head to https://www.purepods.com/